Abstract
The purpose of this study was to compare Turks and Kurds in the context of ethnic identification, perceived individual ethnic discrimination against Kurds and perceived group discrimination against Kurds. Important of Collective Identity Scale and Perceived Discrimination Scale was used to collect data. The sample was composed of 224 Turkish and 240 Kurdish participants. Results was discussed within the framework of Social Identity Theory. According to results, Turkish and Kurdish ethnic groups differed in the context of ethnic identification and perceived discrimination subscales. Comparing to Turkish participants, Kurdish participants show a higher level of ethnic identification, perceived individual ethnic discrimination and perceived group discrimination against Kurds. Ethnic identification predicted Turkish participants’ perceived individual ethnic discrimination against Kurds and perceived group discrimanation against Kurds in the negative direction. Despite that, ethnic identification predicted in the positive direction for Kurdish participants. Additionally, affected by conflict in East and Southeast Anatolia predicted perceived individual ethnic discrimation and perceived group discrimation against Kurds in the positive direction for Kurdish participants.
Keywords: Perceived discrimination, social identity, ethnic identification, Turks and Kurds